The 2026 NFL season opened with only a small Purdue footprint on the field in Week 1, but the former Boilermakers who did play made their presence felt in different ways.
George Karlaftis, Derrick Barnes and Tyrone Tracy Jr. - all products of the Jeff Brohm era - were the only Purdue alums to see action in the first week of the season. Karlaftis set the tone on Monday night for Kansas City in a 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, finishing with three tackles, including one solo stop.
He didn’t get to the sack column, but he was still a problem for Bo Nix, hitting the quarterback three times. Nix finished 17-of-28 for 131 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
Barnes turned in the loudest stat line of the group on Sunday, helping Detroit escape New Orleans with a 31-30 overtime win. The Lions linebacker piled up six tackles, added a sack and picked off a pass in the third quarter to help Detroit build a 14-0 lead. He also logged another quarterback hit and broke up two passes in the victory.
Tracy’s opener was quieter by comparison, even though he arrived with momentum after back-to-back strong seasons with the Giants that produced 1,565 yards and seven touchdowns. Against Dallas on Sunday night, he got only two carries and gained 14 yards.
He also lost a fumble in the first half. Still, New York came away with a 28-20 win at home.
There are other Boilermakers on NFL rosters for 2026, though the source notes that the remaining players either didn’t play in Week 1 or didn’t record statistics.
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Purdue Let A Winnable Game Slip Away For Two Brutal Reasons
Purdue had its chances in a 38-36 loss to Wake Forest, and the frustration came from how close the Boilermakers were to turning it into a good road win. Late in regulation, the offense got all the way to a 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line and still came away with only a field goal, leaving points on the table in a game that was there to be won.
The bigger gut punch arrived in double overtime, when the defense gave up a 4th-and-15 conversion that helped seal the loss. Purdue's coach and defensive coordinator both pointed to areas that need improvement and took responsibility for some of the breakdowns, an acknowledgment that should resonate in a game where the margin was so thin. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Faces A Dangerous Week 3 Test It Hasn't Seen Yet
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The matchup gets even trickier with Nico Iamaleava expected to play, because Purdue has been solid against more traditional rushing attacks but has had trouble when quarterbacks can threaten the edge and extend plays. This game will show whether the Boilermakers can do both parts of the job - slow UCLA on the ground and keep its quarterback from turning broken plays into gains. [Read more 🡒]
Barry Odom Sees One Big Test For Purdue After Wake Forest
Barry Odom says Purdue has spent the week trying to move on cleanly from the Wake Forest loss and turn the page toward a very different kind of challenge. With the Big Ten opener against UCLA next up, Odom praised the work of his coaching staff and players in getting ready, while also pointing to the penalties that have been part of the early-season conversation and need to be cleaned up.
UCLA brings the added backdrop of a trip to the Rose Bowl, which Odom called an exciting stage for the Boilermakers. He also made clear that Purdue is approaching Bob Chesneys team with respect, knowing the league opener will tell the Boilermakers a lot about where they stand after an uneven start. [Read more 🡒]